Levoquin

Levoquin (Levofloxacin) cures a variety of bacterial infections, including several types of sinus infection and pneumonia. It is also prescribed for flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, acute kidney infections, certain urinary or chronic prostate infections, and skin infections. It is a member of the quinolone family of antibiotics.

Take your complete prescription exactly as directed, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop taking Levoquin (Levofloxacin) too soon, the infection may come back. You may take it at mealtimes or in-between.

More common side effects of Levoquin (Levofloxacin) may include:

• headache
• nausea
• constipation
• diarrhea
• difficulty sleeping.

Less common or rare side effects may include abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, abnormal or double vision, aggressiveness, agitation, anemia, angina, anxiety, asthma, back pain, blood abnormalities, blood clots, changeable emotions, chest pain, circulatory failure, colitis, coma, confusion, depression, difficulty in or obstructed breathing, difficulty concentrating, disorientation, dizziness, emotional or mental problems, exaggerated sense of well-being, fainting, fungal infection, gangrene or other infections, gas, genital infection and itching, hallucination, heart attack, heart failure, heartbeat irregularities, high or low blood pressure, high or low blood sugar, hives, impaired thinking, indigestion, intestinal bleeding, intestinal inflammation or blockage, irregular heartbeat, itching, kidney disorders, lack of muscle coordination, liver disorders, lung problems or inflammation, muscle pain weakness, pancreatitis, paralysis, pneumonia, rapid or slow heartbeat, rash, seizures, swelling of face or extremities, swollen tongue, tendon inflammation, tumor, vaginal inflammation, vertigo, vomiting, yellowing of eyes and skin.

Levoquin (Levofloxacin)may cause dizziness or light-headedness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

A case of diarrhea during treatment could signal development of the potentially dangerous condition known as pseudomembranous colitis, an inflammation of the bowel. Call your physician for treatment at the first sign of a problem.

Stop taking the medicine and call your physician if you develop pain, inflammation, or a rupture in a tendon. Quinolone antibiotics have been known to cause tendon rupture during and after therapy. The danger of this is greater when quinolones are combined with steroid medications, especially among older adults.

In rare cases, this medicine has been known to cause heartbeat irregularities. Avoid this drug if you are taking other medications that can change the heartbeat, or if you have a condition that predisposes you to this problem, such as a weak heart, a slow heartbeat, or low potassium.

If you have a kidney condition, make sure the physician is aware of it. Your dosage may need to be lowered.